Rookie promotion Shine Fights features UFC vets during May 9 debut in Ohio

After watching the sport of mixed martial arts explode, seeing his brother excel on “The Ultimate Fighter 6,” and feeling the need for an organization that puts good matchmaking before record padding, MMA fan Devin Price launched Shine Fights.

The rookie organization will make its debut on May 9 with a fight card headlined and co-headlined by former UFC vets Roan Carneiro vs. Ron Jhun and Antwain Britt vs. Antonio Mendes.

The event takes place May 9 at the Celeste Center in Columbus, Ohio.

“There are lots of organizations out there,” Devin Price, brother of former UFC fighter Dorian Price, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “There are some good ones and some bad ones. But the thing with Shine Fights is there won’t be any cupcakes. Our business is putting on good fights, competitive fights. We make the best fights we can.”

To help assure competitive matchmaking, Price employed both his brother and fellow fighter Ron Foster as his matchmakers.

For its initial fight card, the organization recruited from many of the sport’s top camps, including American Top Team, Xtreme Couture, H.I.T. Squad, Buckeye MMA and others. The recruiting netted four fighters who previously competed in the UFC or “The Ultimate Fighter” (as well as Strikeforce, the IFL and other major organizations).

Headlining the Ohio fight card is Carneiro (12-8) vs. Jhun (22-23-2), and in the co-feature, recent UFC light heavyweight Mendes (16-4) meets Britt (6-2), who won a spot on “The Ultimate Fighter 8″ but had to give it up due to a hand injury.

“What we tell fighters is that if you want to fight tough guys, if you’re a fighter who wants challenged, come to our show,” Price said.

Price said the Ohio event is only the beginning of an ambitious schedule.

“We wanted to launch in Ohio,” said Price, who competed in basketball and track at the University of Rhode Island before getting his MBA at Ohio State. “But we plan to go to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, even the Norfolk, Va. area (for future shows).”

Price said he is currently in talks for a broadcast deal that would put the May 9 event on television.

The latest card now features:

Roan Carneiro vs. Ron Jhun

Antwain Britt vs. Antonio Mendes

Harris Sarmineto vs. Mario Stapel

Phil Friedman vs. Bryan Vetell

Jason Riley vs. Joel Wyatt

Beau Baker vs. Jason Nickoson

Kyle Baker vs. Bryon Foster

Ed Newalu vs. Billy Vaughn

Kris McCray vs. Brian Rogers

Tickets for the event, which range from $35 to $150, are currently on sale at www.shinefights.com.

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